REDLANDS >> Lawyers representing Walmart, the city and a resident coalition argued Friday whether proper documentation was filed for a shopping center slated to be constructed on 32 acres of the North Side.

The local group, For Accountability in Redlands (FAIR), sued Walmart and Redlands, saying the two entities failed to comply with the city’s general plan and two zoning laws while designing and approving Redlands Crossing, which will be anchored by a Walmart.

Lawyers for the city and Walmart opposed those claims in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Much of the discussion revolved around Measure U, a 1997 ballot initiative giving residents greater say in development plans.

“Residents are so concerned with development in the city … they took planning into their own hands,” said Cory Briggs, FAIR’s attorney.

Briggs said the development plan was not properly presented to the public, and did not correctly assess the jobs outlook or traffic levels.

Measure U says new development must not increase current levels.

Briggs argued the traffic estimates in the development report were not accurate. Traffic was estimated during the spring instead of in December when it is most dense in the area near Tennessee Street and San Bernardino Avenue where the Walmart building was approved by City Council, according to Briggs.

Walmart’s attorney, Arthur Friedman of San Francisco, said the public had five opportunities to comment on the matter at public hearings.

The council approved the Redlands Crossing at a lengthy Oct. 16 meeting inside a packed Council Chambers.

Friedman said the 206 projected new jobs estimate takes into account jobs that will be lost when Walmart transitions from its current location on Redlands Boulevard to the North Side.

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